Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case



, March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL 3,374,603

' APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS 4 OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-$heet l INVENTORS JOSEPH A. MILLER FRANK Q. KRUGLINSKI QTTOR Y3 March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL 3,374,603

' APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOSEPH A. MILL. ER

FBRANK A. KRUGLINSKI QTTORQEYS I March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL 3,374,603

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 l6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS JosaPH Fl. MILLER FRHNK H. KRUGLINSKI 1 BY y o I Q Q I V \\\\\\\\& a, O v

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APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS 0F PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet -e INVENTORS JOSEPH A MILLER v FRQNK Fl KRUGLINSKI BY Z ' HTTO'F? VS March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS 0F PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS JOSEPH A. MILLER FRANK A. KRUGLINSKI W HTTOF? cvs March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL 3,374,603

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 Ti j E1.

INVENTORS JOSEPH H. MILLER F QNK n. KEUGLINSKI HTTORNE VS March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET 0 1 h 8 e h 4 v e e h S S N 0 5V T 1 R A C G N I LE S EA SC A N N I mT C U w A PR P. H

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APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 I v INVENTORS OSEPH R. MILLER l g igenx A KRUGLINSK! QTTORNE VS INVENTORS A. MILLER 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 KRUGLINSKI FIT'T'O NEYS March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 JOSEPH FRANK BY March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER E 3,374,603

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 JOSEPH A MILLE. FRANK H. KRUGLIN n-r-rore vs I March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 15 Sheets-Sheet l4 Rs ILLER 16a g UL INVENTO JOSEPH A. M FRANK A. KRUGLINSK! BY March 26, 1968 J M ET AL 3,374,603

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 mm b0-$ll$ N 3% A k C W U v \I Q t C 25 (DE o I Q a? 8 I \1 u w 1 0 12 0 s a m 0 E5 L; F -r -F 00' Q 53 J k -m U v |L T H Jos PH IHINPXIISEKORS E ER ll FRANK A. Krausuwsm FMQ K- HTTOE Evs March 26, 1968 J. A. MILLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Filed Oct. 8, 1965 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 v0 an mo 3 Q0 0m mm bu mm vm mm mm \M om mi b w Wk V5 wmm Emu IE $3 iwq N [lg $3 an n twfl HE 92" u 99% nb 6? 'Q TE WWW g D S3 Qw QEWJT g Q n g F mq Qm a 5 I n [lg]. p aw \Qk C E6 o2 o2 m I? mwq QV 0 dWo Q3 mw QN WVO WW4 X JOSEPH A FRANK Fl. BY 3 A E QTTORNEYS United States Patent ()fifice 3,374,503 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,374,603 APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE Joseph A. Miller, Englewood, and Frank A. Kruglinski, North Bergen, N.J., assignors to General Corrugated Machinery Co., Inc., Palisades Park, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 493,972 9 Claims. (CI. 53-58) The inventin relates to apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case. In particular, the invention is directed toward providing apparatus for producing a filled, sealed case wherein the case may be easily opened without damage to the cartons or their contents. It is also directed toward providing cases whose cost is lower than that of the containers normally used for the product cartons and which are rectangular rather than square so that they may be stacked in interlocking tiers to attain greater stacking strength when the tiers are palletized.

While there have been other machines for filling and sealing rectangular cases which may be formed in interlocking tiers, these prior art cases were formed in advance and then fed to a machine for filling and sealing. The container or case cost for these containers is higher than that of the cases which may be used when the instant method of packing and scaling is employed.

It is an important object of the invention to provide apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case in which the cartons are packed so that the case may be split open for unpacking without damage to any of the inner cartons of product.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such apparatus wherein the cartons of product are placed on a scored blank and the case is formed around the product cartons.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such apparatus for packing and sealing cases in which the individual cartons may be price marked by the retailer without removing the cartons from the case.

These and other objects, features, advantages and uses will be apparent during the course of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the steps used in packing and sealing cases using the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 1A is a diagrammatic view of the steps used in opening cases which are sealed by means of the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram, plan view of a preferred form of apparatus which may be used to carry out the teachings of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the entry end of the apparatus of FIGURE 2 showing the incoming, feed conveyor, the inclined conveyor of the apparatus of the invention and the means for orienting the incoming cartons;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carton assembling area of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed perspective view of the carton assembling area showing some of the limit switch controls;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational, fragmentary view showing the transfer fingers and the intermittent assembling controls;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 together illustrate a transverse, sectional view of the carton assembling, case forming, glue sealing and end flap folding portions of the apparatus of FIGURE 2, joined on the lines AA and B-B;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the case sheet blank feed of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical sectional view of the sheet feeding and fiap folding elements of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional view of the final flap folding elements of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 13 is .a perspective view of the exit end of the apparatus prior to the tape sealer;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the exit end of the apparatus of FIGURE 2 showing the tape sealer conveyor; and

FIGURES 15 and 15A, joined at points X and Y, together form the schematic electrical circuit diagram of the controls used in the apparatus of FIGURE 2.

Broadly, the invention is directed toward providing apparatus for packing and sealing product-filled cartons in a case. The cartons are oriented into a bundle having at least two rows of cartons with a predetermined number of cartons in each row. The cartons are oriented so that when the case is opened, predetermined surfaces of the cartons are exposed. The two rows of carton surfaces, to be exposed, face each other along a predetermined plane passing between the rows. The bundle is moved to a predetermined location on a precut, scored blank having a length between its ends equal to the perimeter of the bundle and a width greater than the corresponding width between the sides of the bundle.

The length of the blank is folded completely around the perimeter of the bundle until the ends of the blank abut one another at the top of the case so that the line between the ends of the blank is in the plane dividing the rows of cartons.

The width of the blank is folded over the sides of the bundle to complete the formation of the case and to form the case ends. The ends of the case are sealed with quicksetting, thermoplastic adhesive resin such as formula #625 supplied by Swift & Co. of Chicago, 111., and with a wet glue. The ends are held closed long enough for the thermoplastic resin adhesive to set. The thermoplastic resin adhesive holds the ends closed until the wet glue sets,

The top of the case is sealed with an easily removable closure such as Strip-Lock tape sold by St. Regis Paper Company or gummed tape with a tear string or tear tape to enable the user to open the case easily without damaging the cartons or the product. The cases are opened by removing the tape and pivoting the two halves of the case away from each other. This exposes the desired ends of the cartons for easy price marking or shelf stacking.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates a case packed and sealed in the apparatus of the invention.

Case 20 is formed from blank 22 whose length is equal to the end perimeter of the bundle of cartons 24. The blanks 22 are held in a stack 23 and are fed out one at a time on demand. The bundle of cartons 24 is made up of a predetermined number of individual cartons 26 and is placed in a predetermined position on blank 22. The individual cartons 26 are oriented and assembled in rows so that ends 28 thereof of abutting rows, which are to be exposed when the case is opened, are in contact.

The ends of the case 30 are folded over the bundle and sealed with quick-setting, thermoplastic resin adhesive and wet glue. The top of the case 32 is sealed with an easily removable tape 34. The ends of the blank abut on line 33 when the blank is wrapped around the vertical perimeter of the bundle. Line 33 is in the plane separating the two rows of cartons.

Tape 34 (FIGURE 1A) is seen to comprise tab 36 and longitudinal string 38. The case is opened by pulling the tab and string so as to break the seal on top 32. Case 20 is then split open by pivoting the two halves of the case away from each other as shown in the center illustration of FIGURE 1A. This is most easily done by applying forces at the points and in the directions designated in the center illustration of FIGURE 1A.

The halves of case 20 are pivoted away from each other until the position shown in the lower illustration of FIGURE 1A is reached. In this position, the desired carton ends 28 are exposed for price marking or the cartons 26 are oriented for easy removal from the case and stacked on the shelf.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic, plan view of a preferred form of apparatus of the invention. Filled cartons from the customers carton filling conveyor are oriented on carton orienting conveyor 40 and are fed to carton assembling and bundle transfer section 42 where the correct numberof cartons are collected into a bundle.

A single precut, scored blank is fed from blank stack and feeding section 44 to case forming section 46. The bundle is placed on the blank in case forming section 46 and the case is formed around the bundle. The formed case is transferred to end flap folding and sealing section 48 where the case end flaps are folded and sealed with thermoplastic resin adhesive supplied by unit 49 and wet glue supplied by unit 50. The case is next transferred to top sealing section 52 where the easily removable tape is applied. The filled cartons are fed to the apparatus of the invention from conveyor 54 (FIGURE 3) onto conveyor 40. The cartons 26 are held in position by guide rods 56 and as each carton passes electric eye 58, shuttle 60 is actuated. Shuttle 60 is valve operated and it moves so that a carton is laid down in one direction (say, to the right) and the next succeeding carton is laid down to the left as shown in the figure so that the carton ends 28, to be exposed when the case is opened, face each other. The cartons are kept in reasonable alignment by means of side guides 62 whose positions are adjustable depending on the size of the cartons being packaged.

The laid-down cartons 26 leave carton orienting conveyor 40 and drop vertically into position. Guide 64 serves to guide the dropping cartons into position (FIGURE 4). As the cartons drop off conveyor 40, each of them actuates a limit switch (one of which is shown as 66 in FIGURE These two limit switches are mounted on pusher 68 which retracts toward the right of FIGURE 5 when both switches are actuated.

This permits the two cartons to drop down onto the machine bed 70. After a predetermined time delay, pusher 68 is moved toward the left of FIGURE 5 thereby moving the two cartons to the left on the bed. If other cartons are already on the bed, pusher 68 moves all of them. Pusher 68 is now ready to receive two more cartons from the conveyor 40.

When the proper number of cartons to form a bundle are collected on the bed, the first two cartons of the bundle actuate limit switch LS7 (not shown) on stop 72. The depth and height positions of stop 72 and top plate 74 are adjusted by knobs 73 and 75 respectively. The actuation of this limit switch causes fingers 76 of carriage 78 (Transfer 1) to rise from slots 80 (FIGURES 4, 5 and 6) and for carriage 78 which slides on shafts 85 to move the bundle to position 82 of FIGURE 4. At the same time that the bundle is transferred to position 82, a precut, scored blank 22 is transferred to position 84 from stack 23. The details of the mechanisms used to move the blanks will be described later in this specification.

When bundle 24 reaches position 82, it makes contact with stop 86 and limit switch 88. This returns Transfer 1 to its original position and actuates pusher 90 (Transfer 2) which comprises cylinder 91 and plate 92 and bundle 24 is pushed onto blank 22 in position 84. Pressure leaf springs 93 serve to keep the bundle in position as it moves onto the blank and pivoted hold-downs 94, which are pushed down as bundle 24 moves onto blank 22, ensure 4 that the bundle will slide smoothly onto the blank. After the bundle clears the ends of the hold-downs 94, they pivot back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Upon deposition of the bundle 24 on blank 22 at position 84, limit switch LS11 (FIGURE 11) is actuated which in turn energizes a time delay relay TD1 (not shown.) Pusher retracts, the blank feed mechanism retracts, and when the time delay relay times out, top platen 96 (controlled by cylinder 99) are lowered to commence formation of blank 22 into a case. At the same time flap closers 120 and pusher 122 are also retracted.

When bottom platen 98 reaches its lowermost position, it actuates limit switch LS10 (FIGURE 7). This causes top platen 96 to rise and when it reaches its topmost position, limit switch LS12 (FIGURE 11) is actuated. Limit switch LS12 is only actuated on the upward movement of top platen 96 to prevent improper operation of the machine.

Now, hitch feed 105 starts to move toward the right of FIGURE 7 and folders 100 and 104, which move with the hitch feed 105, respectively fold the trailing top flap and the trailing, inner end flap of the case. Stationary folders 100' and 104' respectively fold the leading top flap and the leading, inner end flap as the hitch feed carries the case past them. The blank then surrounds the perimeter of the bundle and the ends of the blank abut one line which lies in the plane separating the two rows of cartons.

The filled case now continues along the lower level of the apparatus driven by feed 105 (FIGURES 7, 8 and 9). During its travel it contacts limit switches L515 (106), L816 (107), L517 (108), L818 (109), L819 (110), L520 (111), LS21 (112) and LS22 (113). Guide 114 serves to keep the inner end flaps held closed until the gluing operation is completed.

The case contacts the limit switches LSlS-LS22 to cause the following functions to be performed:

L815 (106) opens a valve which applies thermoplastic resin adhesive to the leading, inner, end flaps and LS16 (107) closes the valve;

L817 (108) opens a valve which applies wet glue to the leading, inner, end flaps and LS1-8 (109) closes the valve;

LS19 (110) opens a valve which applies thermoplastic resin adhesive to the trailing, inner, end flaps and L820 (111) closes the valve; and

LS21 (112) opens a valve which applies wet glue to the trailing, inner end flaps and L822 (113) closes the valve.

During the movement of the case through the machine as driven by hitch feed 105, the inner end flaps are held closed by means of guides 114. There are two thermoplastic resin adhesive a'pplicators 116 (one for each end of the case) and four wet glue applicators 118 (two for each end of the case). When the feed 105 comes to the end of its travel, the case contacts LS13 (FIGURE 9). This causes feed 105 to retract and flap closers 120 to close the outer end flaps and hold them in position until the thermoplastic resin adhesive hardens.

Near the end of the return travel of feed 105, it actuates a one-way limit switch LS14 (FIGURE 7) which causes pusher 122 to move the previously completed case to the taper 142 (FIGURE 13) and moves bottom platen 98 to its up position to prepare for the formation of another case. The taper 142 applies a tape with a longitudinal string under the tape in a manner similar to that described in US. Patent 3,199,262. A tab, which adheres to the string, is cut in the tape at at least one end of the tape in a manner well known in the art to facilitate removal of the string to break the seal at the top of the case.

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate the mechanism used to move a single blank 22 from the stack onto position 84.

When the system calls for a blank to be delivered to position 84, .feed cylinder 124 moves rack 125 forward. Rack 125 is engaged in pinion 126 which causes shaft 127 to rotate. The rotation of shaft 127 causes a similar rotation of pinions 128. Pinions 128 are meshed with racks 130 on which blank pushers 132 are mounted. Blank pushers 132 are provided with a plurality of pointed fingers 134 mounted at the leading edge, These fingers fit between the corrugations of the blank and hold it while the body portions of pushers 132 push the blank into position.

FIGURE 12 illustrates the end flap closers. 120 Which are used to fold down the outer end flaps over the inner end flaps after the adhesives have been applied and to hold the ends closed until the thermoplastic resin adhesive hardens. Each flap closer 120 comprises actuating cylinder 136 and plates 138. When the flap closer is actuated, the pistons of cylinders 136 move toward the case and fold upper case flaps 139 down and lower case flaps 140 up.

Various adjustments are provided throughout the apparatus to permit it to handle several sizes of cartons and cases.

FIGURES and 15A, joined at points X and Y, together constitute the electrical schematic diagram of the apparatus of the invention. Three phase, A-C of the proper voltage is applied at 144 to transformer 146 and motor 148. Motor 148 supplies power to drive the belts, transfers and other operative units of the apparatus. Suitable safety devices (not shown) are provided for motor 148. In FIGURES 15 and 15A, a circle indicates the coil of a relay or other control, a pair of parallel lines indicates the normally open contacts of a relay or other control and a pair of parallel lines cut by a diagonal line indicates the normally closed contacts of a relay or other control. Contacts 149 are overload resets.

Operation proceeds as follows:

Spring-biased power on switch 150 is pushed to the on position and when time delay relay TDR times closed, control coil C1 is actuated thereby closing contacts C1 which are in parallel with the power on push switch. Red light LT1 also lights at this time. To stop the operation, either emergency stop switches 152 or power off switch 154 are pushed to open the circuit on line 3.

When C1 on line 3 closed, the contacts of C1 in one side oft he A-C line beyond line 3 closed so as to supply electrical power to the balance of the system. To start the cycle, spring-biased switch 156 is pushed and to stop the cycle, switch 158 is pushed. When contact C1 in the A-C line closes, blinker light LT3 operates through the normally closed contacts of motor control M1. When switch 156 is closed, voltage is applied to motor control coil M1, control coil C2, and green light LT2. This action closes the motor control contacts M1 to start motor 148 and opens the circuit to blinker light LT3. Motor control contacts M1 and control contacts C2 on line 8 close to complete the circuit on line 8.

As a carton passes through the electric eye beam, the electric eye relay lEER closes thereby closing the contacts IEER on line 11 and opening those on line 12. When the contacts on line 11 close, the circuit through the coil of ocntrol relay CR2 closes thereby closing contacts CR2 on lines 10, 12 and 13. This, in conjunction with the normally closed contacts CR4, holds control relay CR2 closed. Now, when the carton clears the electric eye circuit 58, the electric eye relay returns to its normal position thereby closing the normally closed contacts IEER on line 12. This action closes the circuit to control relay CR3 so that its normally open conltacts (lines 9 and 13) close.

The circuit on line 9 causes a current through valve VlA to actuate shuttle 6t} and knock down a carton. At the same time, switch LS1 is moved into contact with valve VlB. Also, the circuit through control relay CR4 is closed thereby opening the normally closed contacts CR4 on line 11, which action thus opens the circuit to control relays CR2 (line 11), CR3 (line 12) and CR4 (line 13).

The next carton repeats the above procedure so that valve VlB is actuated and the shuttle knocks the carton down in the opposite direction from that caused by valve VIA. This operation proceeds and the knocked down cartons are carried by orienting conveyor 40 until they drop onlto pusher 68.

One carton drops onto switch LS4 on pusher 68 and the other onto switch LS5. When both switches are closed, valve V2A causes pusher 68 to retract so that the cartons drop down onto the machine bed. At the end of the retracted position of pusher 68 in contacts switch LS6, this actuates valve V2B which is provided with a pneumatic delay to permit the dropped cartons to settle. Then valve V2B moves pusher 68 forward to move the dropped cartons out of the way of the pusher and to position the pusher to receive two more cartons.

When the predetermined number of cartons have collected in front of pusher 68, switch LS7 is actuated. The normally closed contacts of switch LS7 open thereby disabling pusher 68 and the normally open contacts of switch LS7 close thereby operating valve V3A to move a blank 22 from stack 23 to position 84 and also operating V4A to move the bundle of cartons to position 82.

The arrival of blank 22 at position 84 actuates switch LS9 and the arrival of the bundle at position 82 actuates switch LS8. Together, these actions close the circuits on lines 18 and 19 thereby oeprating valve V4B to return the bundle transfer mechanism to prepare for the next transfer to position 82 and valve VSA to push the bundle onto the blank at position 84.

If switches LS8 and L810 are actuated at the same time or if switch LS8 is actuated without actuation of LS9, the circuit to fault relay CR1 (line 20) is closed and operation stops (norm-ally closed contacts CR1 on line 8 open).

When the bundle arrives on the blank (position 84), the circuits through the coil of time delay TD1 (line 21), valve V5B (line 22) and valve V3B (line 23) are closed. Valve V5B causes pusher to retract and valve V3B retracts the blank feed. After time delay TD1 times out, contacts TD1 close thereby closing the circuit to valve V6A (line 24) which moves top platen 96 down. The circuit to valves V7A, V8A and V9B are also closed through the contacts of TD1. Valve V7A moves bottom platen 98 down, valve VSA moves flap closers 136 out to prepare for the next case and valve V9B causes pusher 122 to retract to prepare to push the next completed case to the taper.

At the end of the downward movement of the platens 96 and 98, bottom platen 98 actuates switch L510 which closes the circuit on line 28 and opens the circuit on line 18. The line 28 circuit actuates valve V6B to raise the top platen 96. As top platen 96 raises, it closes one-way switch L812 which actuates valve V10A to move the hitch feed forward through the apparatus.

As the case, urged by hitch feed 105, moves through the machine the case contacts the following switches to control adhesive application:

LS15 closes the circuit so that valve V11A operates to apply thermoplastic resin adhesive to the leading inner end fiap.

L516 opens the circuit to valve VllA.

LS17 closes the circuit so that valve V12A applies wet glue to the leading inner end flap.

L518 opens the circuit to valve V1'2A.

LS19 closes the circuit so that valve V11A operates to apply thermoplastic resin adhesive to the trailing inner end flap.

LS20 opens the circuit to valve V11A.

LS21 closes the circuit so that valve V12A operates to apply wet glue to the trailing inner end flap.

and V9A. Valve V7B causes bottom platen 98 to move up 7 to receive the next blank and bundle and valve V9A causes pusher 122 to move forward and push the completed case to the taper.

The foregoing controls are interlocked and integrated with those of the taper to prevent malfunctioning of the complete system.

When it is necessary to clear the machine of partially finished cases, clear switch 160 is closed. This serves the same function as the closing of switch L811 and permits the apparatus to finish the processing of all completed bundles. 7

While a particular embodiment of the apparatus of the invention has been shown and described, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are possible a without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case which may be opened without damage to the v cartons and their contents so as to expose predetermined ends of the cartons when the case is opened comprising in combination:

means for orienting the cartons into a bundle having at least two rows with a predetermined number of cartons in each row so that the carton surfaces, to be exposed, of each of the two rows face each other at a given plane passing between the rows; means for moving the bundle to a predetermined location on a precut, scored blank having a length between ends equal to the perimeter of the bundle and a width greater than the corresponding width between sides of the bundle; 7 means for folding the length of the blank completely around the perimeter of the bundle until the ends of the blank a'but one another, said predetermined location being such that the ends of the blank are each brought to the given plane passing between the rows;

4. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as described in claim 3 wherein the means for applying the tape longitudinally over the abutting ends of the blank includes means for applying a tape provided with a tab and a longitudinal string afiixed to the tab so that when the tab and string are pulled, the string is removed and the top of the case is unsealed.

5. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as described-in claim 2 wherein the means for applying the tape longitudinally over the abutting ends of the blank include means for applying'a tap provided with a tab and a longitudinal string atfixed to the tab so that when the tab and string. are pulled,'the string is removed and the top of the case is unsealed.

6. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as described in claim 1 wherein the means for sealing the ends of the case comprises means for applying a quicksetting, thermo lastic resin adhesive, means means for folding the width of the precut, scored blank over the sides of the bundle to complete the case and form the ends thereof;

means for sealing the ends of the case with adhesive;

and

means for sealing at least the top of the formed case.

uct in a case as described in claim 1 wherein the means for sealing the top of the formed case comprises means for applying a tape longitudinally over the abutting ends of the blank.

3. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as'described in claim 2 wherein the means for sealing the ends of the case comprises means for applying a quicksetting, thermosplastic resin adhesive, means for applying wet glue, and means for holding the ends of the case closed until the thermoplastic resin adhesive sets so that the thermoplastic resin adhesive holds the ends of the case closed until the wet glue sets.

for applying wet glue, and means for holding the ends of the case closed until the thermoplastic resin adhesive sets' so that the thermoplastic resin adhesive holds the ends of the case closed until the wet glue sets.

7. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as described in claim 1 wherein the means H means for detecting the cartons entering the conveyor;

means actuated by the detecting means for aligning the cartons into rows; and

means for collecting a, predetermined number of the cartons in a bundle.

8. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as described in claim 7.including:

first and second circuit controlling means and first and second transfer means respectively controlled by the first and second circuit controlling means;

said first circuit controlling means being actuated by the completed bundle of cartons;

said first transfer means moving a precut, scored blank to a predetermined. position;

means for sensing the arrival of said precut, scored blank to said predetenmined position to actuate said second circuit controlling means;

said second transfer means moving the completed .bundle of cartons onto the precut, scored blank.

I 9. Apparatus for packing and sealing cartons of product in a case as described in claim 1 including:

first and second circuit controlling means and first and 7 second transfer means respectively controlled by the first and second circuit controlling means; said first circuit controlling means being actuated by the completed bundle of cartons;

said first transfer means moving a precut, scored blank to a predetermined position; a

TRAVIS S. McGEI-IEE Primary Examiner.

N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND SEALING CARTONS OF PRODUCT IN A CASE WHICH MAY BE OPENED WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE CARTONS AND THEIR CONTENTS SO AS TO EXPOSE PREDETERMINED ENDS OF THE CARTONS WHEN THE CASE IS OPENED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: MEANS FOR ORIENTING THE CARTONS INTO A BUNDLE HAVING AT LEAST TWO ROWS WITH A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF CARTONS IN EACH ROW SO THAT THE CARTON SURFACES, TO BE EXPOSED, OF EACH OF THE TWO ROWS FACE EACH OTHER AT A GIVEN PLANE PASSING BETWEEN THE ROWS; MEANS FOR MOVING THE BUNDLE TO A PREDETERMINED LOCATION ON A PRECUT, SCORED BLANK HAVING A LENGTH BETWEEN ENDS EQUAL TO THE PERIMETER OF THE BUNDLE AND A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE CORRESPONDING WIDTH BETWEEN SIDES OF THE BUNDLE; MEANS FOR FOLDING THE LENGTH OF THE BLANK COMPLETELY AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BUNDLE UNTIL THE ENDS OF THE BLANK ABOUT ONE ANOTHER, SAID PREDETERMINED LOCATION BEING SUCH THAT THE ENDS OF THE BLANK ARE EACH BROUGHT TO THE GIVEN PLANE PASSING BETWEEN THE ROWS; MEANS FOR FOLDING THE WIDTH OF THE PRECUT, SCORED BLANK OVER THE SIDES OF THE BUNDLE TO COMPLETE THE CASE AND FORM THE ENDS THEREOF, MEANS FOR SEALING THE ENDS OF THE CASE WITH ADHESIVE; AND MEANS FOR SEALING AT LEAST THE TOP OF THE FORMED CASE OVER THE ABUTTING ENDS OF THE BLANK WITH AN EASILY REMOVABLE CLOSURE WHEREBY THE SAME MAY BE REMOVED AND THE PORTIONS OF THE CASE ON EACH SIDE OF THE GIVEN PLANE PASSING BETWEEN THE ROWS PIVOTED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO EXPOSE THE DESIRED SURFACES OF BOTH ROWS OF CARTONS. 